And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
John 12:23–26
Today marks one year since my grandfather, Edward Winslow, left this world for his true home. His physical absence is painfully noticeable. He was present in every sense of the word. He was more reliable than the passing of time itself. He could outwork anyone, and he did time and time again, even as his age progressed. He was larger than life, and central to mine. I grew up living across the street from him and my grandmother. I worked side by side with him splitting and stacking firewood, clearing snow, raking leaves, building homes, riding around with him and his dog in his truck. I watched Jeopardy regularly with them and sat at the kitchen table as grandpa would eat his Ritz crackers with peanut butter and drink his tea. On Sundays, he and my grandmother were the door greeters at our church giving the warmest welcome imaginable. After church we would go to their house and I always remember Grandpa helping Grandma by making the mashed potatoes and slicing the roast, and then cleaning up afterwards. I could continue but to suffice to say, he lived an ordinary, unassuming life. Yet he was a man of extraordinary faith.
For my grandpa, the journey of following Christ, began when he was encountered by the resurrected Christ. I mean this literally. A few years ago, I asked my grandpa about when he began to follow Jesus. In his words, “I seen him, and he told me to change my ways.” One day, many years ago, a carpenter from Nazareth visited a carpenter from Stony Creek. I can’t explain it, but I absolutely believe my grandpa when he said that Jesus appeared to him in his house. I’ll put it this way, my grandfather was one of the few individuals “in whom there was no deceit.” From that moments to his final breath, my grandpa lived a life in service to Jesus and others. He was the most selfless person that I have ever known. He found true life, abundant life in following Jesus. His faith was quiet yet remarkable. He and my grandma would pray for their kids, grandkids, and great grandkids every day at their table. Sacred moment in ordinary spaces. One of the most sacred moments that I have ever experienced was a few days before he completed that final leg of this life’s journey. Rach and I visited him in the hospital to just be with him. I read scripture to him and prayed for him. He was on morphine and was in and out of sleep but as I would read, he would repeatedly say “Jesus.” I have never heard the name of Jesus spoken in such a beautiful way. Then he would doze off and several minutes later he woke up and started praying for me. The most simple and beautiful and powerful and coherent prayer that I will treasure for my entire life. He lived a life that demonstrated the faith that sustained him. Through his character and conduct, he continually pointed people to Jesus. His life was the greatest sermon that could be preached.
Friend, have you seen Jesus? Do you have resurrection faith? Only in Jesus can true life be found and I believe that to my very core. May we live lives that reflect this upside down reality, the trajectory of the Christian life, from death to life, as we follow Jesus who was, AND who is, and who is to come.
Also this song by Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton, Where I get Where I’m Going, brings me comfort. I hope you enjoy it too.